New House

Wow. Buying a home is craziness. I forgot how crazy it is... mortgages, inspections, etc.

I think the hardest part is that I'm hearing a lot of comments from friends about the house. I think they're trying to feel me out to see if I'm really going through with this... buying a larger house, further from the church, etc. And though the house is pretty and neutral, it doesn't have our "life" in it yet, so the photos make it look a little bland, I'll be honest.

I'm getting a little gun shy of showing friends photos of it. There's a hesitancy in their voices. Maybe it's b/c they're used to us having a little bunaglow. I don't know.

I imagine this is how women feel who adopt a child from another country but haven't yet seen their baby yet. All they have is a photo from some third world country in which the baby looks unkempt. They're trying to convince others that the baby is wonderful; in truth they know very little about the baby. They need to hold the infant, dress him and put their special family touches on him.

So, now that I've said my peace, here's what I like about our new buy:

1. It's neutral decor inside. No screaming floral wallpaper to make me grow crazy.

2. Great floors- some hardwoods, some carpet

3. Clean, clean, clean

4. No half finished projects- "We WERE going to build the deck, but we stopped."

5. Four bedrooms, 2.5 baths- Master bath has a garden tub and shower

6. There is a den which you have to walk down a little private hallway to get to... very intimate- love it.

7. The living room has vaulted ceilings, but the windows remain on the lower floor (not floor to ceiling). It has an airy but intimate feeling at the same time. Plus, it has two skylights

8. It's bright and airy. Get me through these Chicago winters

9. The kitchen has a good amount of counter space. It's not granite, but they're clean and liveable. I like that.

10. A great basement. It's not finished, but that's okay.